ARA – Friends of designer bookbinding – was founded on the 26th October 1990 by a small group of bookbinders, bibliophiles and book restorers. It is located at the Scientific Foundation Querini Stampalia in Venice, that has received the new association with great enthousiasm.

The main aim of ARA is to promote artistic bookbinding among a larger public, trying to encourage this type of art, that was recognized in former times in Italy.

To manage in this task, ARA has put among the main obectives to arrange meetings between bookbinders and eventual contractors (bibliophiles, public and private insittutions, etc.) organizing exhibitions, seminars, lectures, courses, workshops.

Workshops, Competitions, Seminars, and especially those having specialists from other countries, whose aim is not only to promote the designer bookbinding in general, but to offer to bookbinders and those interested in the ‘Bel libro’ study opportunities for a better knowledge of the techniques at an international level. Through exhibitions and lectures the work of bookbinders will be better appreciated while meeting the customers.
The activities of ARA are developped at various levels with the idea to encourage all those that professionally or out of a strong interest are in contact with books. 

ARA Italia  is bound to the other ARA organizations of 15 countries in the world, coordinated by ARA International in Luxembourg.

Today ARA has a large number of members and activities organized during the past ten years; a list of the most important ones will follow.